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Y&R's Maria Arena Bell speaks on the fallout for Victor Post-Arbitration!

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

So what shall become of Y&R’s Victor Newman now that his children one-upped him?  Well, according to the series executive producer and head writer, Maria Arena Bell,  he is going to go through some very turbulent times and some big twists and turns, now that the all-powerful mogul lost the arbitration hearing this week on the number one sudser. Bell spoke to EW.com about Victor’s reaction to his children getting billions from him by being awarded their trust funds, and the impact it will have on the Newman family.   Here are some excerpts below!

Bell on if Victor will seek revenge on his children, or, if Victoria, Nick and Abby will mess their victory up all by themselves:  “What will happen next is more complicated than that. It’s a little bit of both. There will be interesting twists and turns in what he decides to do, and the turns their lives take now that they’ve come into this money [will be interesting]. It definitely is going to be interesting to watch, and I feel like it very much tracks what happens in real life with these major financial dynasties.”

Bell on if the verdict cleaned out Victor Newman all-together: “It’s a pretty major settlement. It’s going to cause a major, major shift in how Victor’s going to operate in the future. It has major ramifications for Newman Enterprises itself and for the man himself, having really felt like he’s gone to war with his children here. And in essence, he feels that they bested him in this moment. It’s going to have enormous consequences down the road for him.”

Bell on if the Mighty Victor could actually have a full-on meltdown: “Meltdown is never really the word I would use to describe his behavior, you know? I think he’s much more of someone who, against all odds, will hold it together and find a way. But it’s an interesting choice that he makes. By the end of the week there will be a startling decision on his part, because he always has to take action.”

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He has been walking all over people since I started watching this show. (In 1990) I would like to see someone else win for a change. Like Tucker and Jack.

So only older men have the business smarts to win, and own/command large companies?

I would like to see Katherine, Victoria, Jill, and/or Lauren have some victories. Katherine was a major player in Genoa City until Tucker knocked her down. I would love to see her turn the tables and regain her power and then some.

I didn’t mean to imply that only men have business smarts. I don’t care who it is as long as it isn’t Victor. Maybe Abby will outshine them all with a cable show. Or maybe Phyllis and Sharon can start their own PI business. Possibilities are endless, if only writers would quit writing same old storylines. Victor’s going to get it all back….business as usual.

Well, that settlement was way over expectations. Personally, I think it was excessive. Now I suppose the major players are all going for Jabot and Beauty By Nature. Should be interesting to see who ends up with what. It really is so unrealistic. Victor lives on a ranch with a very small living room. Puhleese!!!!!! The set designer should aim higher, don’t you think? And what about Nikki and Victor’s love scene. I’m kinda nauseous… But, I still go back for more!……

The startling decision is he gets married to Diane! The actress is only 38 in real life Eric Braeden is 69! It would have been much more beleiveable to bring back Susan Walters she is 47 plus Kyle was born before Abby! Maria Bell history is important longtime fans don’t forget!

Victor can spew all he wants about how he “built this empire from the ground up; I was in an orphanage; no one helped me”…. blah blah blah. He has – for umpteen years – been an arrogant, self-righteous, self-serving megalomaniac who walks all over those he claims to love and has shown complete disregard for the feelings of those closest to him. I don’t feel one bit sorry for him!

Eric Braeden turns 70 in April. Maura West who plays Diane turns 39 in April. Thirty one years age difference she was all wrong for this role. I can’t beleive Eric Braeden likes this storyline. It looks like abuse of a child. I can’t stand to watch this! All levels of sloppy casting and storylines!

This Y&R storyline is stupid and boring. Victor’s brats have been raised with privilege and money. They have never had to do a days work in their whole lives.On top of that Billy bought (stole) a baby. Absolutely no repurcussions for that. When Billy and Victoia’s illegal adoption is uncovered, Victoria is going to come crawling to daddy for help. Victor is not going to be able to help, because of the stupid lawsuit.

Very disappointed w/the story line
Been a fan from day 1..but you are slowly losing me.

I flip to CNN when some of the new characters (who cannot act)
are on.

WHY has this show become a black soap opera?
Every leading important role now is a black actor.

ie: esq, surgeon, (couold not even pronounce his lines correctly) all in power positions.

Why not just have a total black soap?

It is too obvious what you are doing & that is why you are losing viewers.

Cane story getting stale.
Nothing to hold my interest or to look forward to tune in tomorrow.

Possibiliites w/Adam & Phyllis playing detective..make it more..get new exciting characters & new writers wouldn’t hurt either.

I guess that i am a wierd duck because I love acting, the art of acting, and hence I love great actor’s like Olivier, Poitier and Eric Braeden. I don’t care if an actor is white or black, it does not matter. A truly fine actor, and one of America’s very best is Samual L. Jackson, the fact that he happens to be a black actor just does not make any difference to me. His acting is exquisite, period. And Hello we now have a black president, in case know one has noticed. And what that means is that if a person is talented, and works extremely hard, he can be any race, and become whatever he want to be.

News

Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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